It wasn\u2019t just fear. It was doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The principal had already warned them, winning was not optional. Failure meant expulsion. But now, with their mana gone, with their cores hollow and unresponsive, the fear clawing at their hearts was something deeper. What if this wasn\u2019t temporary? What if they were broken forever? What if the Grand Magus truly had no use for them anymore?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if he no longer had use for them…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The thought none of them dared to say out loud slithered into all their minds at once. If the Grand Magus wanted to hide what the pills had done, the simplest way would be to silence them forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nannan\u2019s voice cracked, betraying the same dread that gnawed at them all. “I was just wondering… do we have to meet tonight?” she asked, her words trembling. “The principal must be busy with the closing ceremony. We could always… meet him tomorrow, right? Besides, isn\u2019t it a bit late?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her words made the others pause. She was right. It was<\/em> strange. Normally, the Grand Magus would summon them immediately after a match, demanding explanations, evaluating their performance on the spot. Why wait until now, in the shadows of night, away from the noise of the festival?<\/p>\n\n\n\n George\u2019s thoughts twisted into another direction. His gaze shifted uneasily to their escorts. Three staff members. Never before had more than one been needed to fetch them. Tonight, it felt less like an invitation and more like an arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students exchanged wary glances, but the escorts\u2019 faces betrayed nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The Grand Magus has made a request,” one of the staff said flatly. “We are simply following his wishes. Once the meeting is over, I am sure you will be free to enjoy the rest of the evening, and tomorrow\u2019s ceremony.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there was no reassurance in his voice, only tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The unease settled deeper into their stomachs. They had lost their magic. They couldn\u2019t fight back even if they wanted to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nannan, who had been walking stiffly, suddenly stopped. Her lips trembled, her hands balled into fists. “I… I\u2019m feeling really sick,” she stammered. “I think I need to go back to the dorm. The Grand Magus will understand, I\u2019m sure.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She tried to edge away from the line of students, but one of the staff members immediately stepped into her path. His arm extended like a wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019m sorry,” he said firmly. “But the Grand Magus gave a direct order. If you feel unwell, you may tell him yourself once you arrive.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nannan\u2019s breath caught in her throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bones stepped forward quickly, forcing a smile that didn\u2019t reach his eyes. “Then… maybe the Grand Magus could come to us instead? He could meet us at the festival, or perhaps join us for a meal. A public place.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was obvious what he was trying to do, shift the location, drag them into the safety of crowds, into the open where no one could act against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staff member\u2019s jaw tightened. “The Grand Magus is extremely busy. Please don\u2019t make our task harder than it already is.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kayzel\u2019s eyes narrowed as he studied their escorts more closely. The staff weren\u2019t calm. Their stiff postures, the clipped tone in their voices, it wasn\u2019t just the students who were afraid. The escorts themselves looked nervous, as if they were carrying out an order they wanted no part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If they return empty-handed… will they be punished too?<\/em> Kayzel realized grimly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Please!” Nannan\u2019s voice cracked into a shout as she tried again, this time pushing forward with her shoulder. For an instant, hope flashed in her chest, until the staff member\u2019s eyes hardened and his mana flared. A pulse of force shoved her backward violently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She stumbled, her knees buckling. She would have fallen if Bones hadn\u2019t darted forward to catch her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The humiliation burned in her chest. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. In a burst of anger, she tried to call on her magic, to summon even the smallest spell in retaliation. Nothing. Not even a spark. Her hands trembled uselessly, her voice breaking into sobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly\u2019s stomach twisted. The situation had turned dire. The staff would drag them to Ibarin whether they wanted it or not, and if they resisted, it could become much worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She clenched her teeth, lifted her hand, and quietly cast a silence spell around herself. Her fingers brushed the small device hidden at her side, the one Raze had given her, modified so only he could hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her voice was low, desperate. “Raze… we need your help.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words vanished into the device, carried across the silent spell\u2019s barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group continued forward, hearts pounding, shadows stretching longer as the main academy loomed closer. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of dread pressing down on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And behind the silence spell, Kelly\u2019s whispered plea still echoed in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Patreon: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS, or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was clear to Kelly now, Raze had predicted this. That was why he had slipped her the device, why he had told her to call on him if things ever turned dire. She clutched it tightly in her palm, heart hammering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But even though she had contacted him, doubt gnawed at her. Could Raze even do anything in this situation? He was strong, yes, stronger than anyone she had ever known, but this was different. They weren\u2019t in the middle of the tournament anymore. If they got dragged into the academy, out of the eyes of the crowd, then it was over. There would be no spectators, no witnesses, nothing but silence and the wrath of the Grand Magus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we disappear inside those walls, no one will ever know what happens to us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly wasn\u2019t the only one who realized this. Every student could feel the weight of the path they were being forced down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then there was something strange. Instead of leading them through the wide, open halls where the guests and teachers still lingered, the staff members guided them out the side exit. The lively music of the festival dulled behind them, replaced with the whisper of wind through trees. They were walking a shaded path that wound along the edge of the academy grounds, hidden from prying eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly\u2019s mind sharpened. No one is here. No students, no guests, no staff. We\u2019re cut off. This… this is our only chance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She didn\u2019t hesitate. Drawing in her breath, she summoned her mana. A sharp strike of wind blasted forward, aimed directly at the back of one of the staff members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The attack never landed. The mage\u2019s uniform barrier flared, dispersing the strike with a shimmer of light. All three staff members turned instantly, their formation shifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We were told you might resist!” one barked, his voice cold and edged with anger. “You humiliated the academy and all of us. Accept your punishment quietly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He retaliated at once. A gust spell tore forward, thick enough to uproot grass from the earth. Kelly gritted her teeth, raised her hand, and answered with her own wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two spells collided midair, twisting and howling as a pair of clashing tornadoes. The impact shook the trees, branches snapping as leaves scattered everywhere. They seemed evenly matched, locked in a deadlock of air. Kelly wasn\u2019t surprised, she had been one of the academy\u2019s top students for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the staff had numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the side, another mage conjured a fireball the size of a boulder, heat spilling off it in waves. He thrust his hands forward, ready to hurl it straight at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before he could, George moved. With a burst of strength, he grabbed both the mage\u2019s wrists and forced them downward. The fireball slammed into the ground, exploding into a wave of heat and ash that scorched the soil but missed Kelly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n George snarled, using his momentum to knee the mage in the gut. The man doubled over, coughing, only for George to lift his head by the hair and smash his fist straight into his face. The staff member collapsed instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Your fancy uniforms don\u2019t stop fists,” George barked, his chest heaving. “Don\u2019t forget, I\u2019m the most well-trained body mage in existence!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He barely had time to gloat. A streak of lightning crackled across the clearing, striking his torso and sending him spinning through the air. George hit the ground hard, rolling across the dirt until he lay groaning, smoke rising faintly from his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “All of you are still recovering, and you can\u2019t even use your magic properly!” the staff mage roared, electricity sparking between his fingers. “And yet you dare resist? Sit still, or I\u2019ll zap every last one of you where you stand!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear gripped the group. George had been their strongest in hand-to-hand combat, and he had been taken out in one strike. The others clenched their fists, unwilling to submit but terrified of what would happen next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nannan\u2019s voice broke through, high and trembling, but filled with rage. “How could you?! We gave our lives to this academy! Our families gave everything so we could be here! We even took those damned pills we never wanted to take! And now you turn on us, just because we lost?! Why can\u2019t you let us rest?!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her scream echoed through the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staff mage didn\u2019t care. His eyes narrowed, and lightning burst again from his hands, arcing toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before it could land, Kayzel moved. He stepped in front of Nannan and took the blast head-on. His body seized and trembled, sparks dancing over his skin. His muscles twitched from the pain, but he planted his feet, refusing to fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “And here I thought I was scum,” Kayzel hissed through gritted teeth. “But I guess there\u2019s always someone out there better at it than me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly\u2019s battle still raged nearby. Wind howled as she and the other mage exchanged spells, bursts of pressure shaking the clearing. Neither seemed able to gain the upper hand, but Kelly\u2019s eyes flicked constantly to the others. They were running out of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kayzel knew it too. If they stood still, they would all be picked off one by one. His mind raced, and then he shouted at the top of his lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Split! Scatter!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students didn\u2019t hesitate. At his command, they bolted in every direction, zigzagging through the trees, circling around the staff mage. The plan was obvious: someone would get hit, maybe even go down, but if enough of them pressed in, they could overwhelm him the way George had with the first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the staff had prepared for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Nannan and Bones sprinted forward, another figure stepped into their path, the very mage George had knocked out minutes before. Blood still trickled from his nose, but his eyes blazed with fury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His palm lit with fire, a blazing orb swelling in his hand. “This time, you won\u2019t get away.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He thrust his arm forward, and the fireball screamed through the air toward them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bones froze. Nannan braced herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the attack never landed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the side, a wave of pitch-black energy lashed outward, wrapping around the fireball like tendrils. The flames sputtered, hissed, and vanished, snuffed out into nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clearing fell silent for a beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly stood there, her chest heaving, her arm still outstretched. But this time, it wasn\u2019t wind swirling at her fingertips. It was something darker. Something colder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark energy dripped from her palm like liquid shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She had just revealed her secret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In front of everyone, Kelly had used Dark Magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ***<\/p>\n\n\n\n *****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Patreon: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS, or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The situation had turned dire. Of all the Central Academy students who had once been hailed as the pride of their institution, only one among them could still use magic. Kelly. The others stood helpless, drained and broken, their cores nothing but hollow silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That left Kelly with a grim truth: the burden of survival rested solely on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her only advantage was the one thing she had always kept hidden, her Dark Magic. Unlike wind, fire, or lightning, there was no formal training, no neat counter-spells printed in textbooks. Dark Magic was a forbidden art, rarely studied, whispered about in fear, and deliberately excluded from the academy\u2019s lessons. No one truly knew the best way to counter it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But by using it, Kelly would be branding herself. Every spell she cast pulled her further into the light of suspicion. If the staff didn\u2019t kill her here and now, she would be hunted later. Her fellow students would never look at her the same way again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even as her heart thundered in her chest, her mind repeated one cold fact: If I reveal this power, they\u2019ll know I belong to the Dark Guild.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But then her eyes flicked to Nannan, who only moments earlier had nearly been struck down by a fireball. She remembered the girl\u2019s terrified expression, her body bracing for death. Kelly clenched her fists, teeth grinding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event was over. The pretense of honor, of competition, of rules, gone. All that remained was survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2019Screw it,\u2019 she thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her hand snapped up, and a torrent of black energy exploded outward. The beam surged like liquid shadow, devouring the fireball as though it had never existed. The brilliant flame sputtered once and vanished into nothingness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staff member\u2019s eyes widened. He staggered back, but shock quickly twisted into rage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly dropped to her knees, pressing her palm against the ground. Shadows erupted, twisting around her in spirals, forming a barrier that absorbed the lightning bolts and gusts of wind that slammed into it from either side. The air around her chilled, and even the bravest of her classmates instinctively took a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “She\u2019s using Dark Magic!” one staff member bellowed. “Get rid of her, completely! She must be working for the Dark Guild!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three mages turned on her at once. Fire, wind, and lightning bombarded her from every angle, crashing into her shields. Kelly gritted her teeth, retreating a step at a time, weaving her darkness into new forms, shards that countered flame, wisps that snuffed out sparks, walls that bent the wind aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But even with her strength, it was three against one. Almost impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If only I\u2019d used it earlier,<\/em> she cursed inwardly, sweat dripping down her temple. When George first knocked that man down, I could\u2019ve finished it. Why did I hesitate? Why did I care what they thought of me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the sidelines, the other Central students stood frozen. Two of them strained under George\u2019s weight as they tried to pull him to safety, but their movements slowed until they stopped completely. Where could they even take him? Back to the venue? Hide among the guests? Seek their families? No. If the academy itself had turned against them, dragging their families into it would only spread the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were trapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Should we help her?” Bones muttered, his hands trembling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You really think we should?” another snapped back. His voice was harsh, but his eyes betrayed fear. “She just used Dark Magic! You all saw it! That means she\u2019s one of them, one of the Dark Guild. Everything makes sense now. Why she didn\u2019t take the pill, why she kept warning us about the Grand Magus. She\u2019s been lying to us the whole time!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “But is what happened to us really because of her?” Kayzel\u2019s voice cut through, heavy with exhaustion yet steady. “The Grand Magus made every decision long before Kelly revealed herself. We all took those pills without knowing what they\u2019d do. Whatever the Dark Guild is, Kelly didn\u2019t force us into this. She…” He paused, staring at Kelly as she deflected another lightning strike. “She fought back when no one else could.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nannan\u2019s voice trembled, but her words carried fire. “And she saved me. The only reason she revealed herself in the first place was to protect me. That counts for something. The least we can do is try to resolve this, to stand with her somehow.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their words fell heavy over the group. The truth was undeniable, without their mana, they were useless. They could barely stand, let alone fight. And yet their hearts ached with shame, watching Kelly fight alone, watching her burn herself away for their sake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the battlefield, Kelly\u2019s body shook. Her breathing grew shallow. She had used more mana in these few minutes than she had in months. Each spell she cast now was weaker, slower. Dark tendrils sputtered into mist, barely enough to hold back the relentless storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Damn it!” she screamed, her voice cracking. “Damn it, damn it, I don\u2019t care about dying, but to die like this, in a stupid place like this!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her knees buckled. Another blast of fire streaked toward her,<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then a voice carried across the clearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Do you really think you\u2019ll be dying?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staff members stopped. Kelly\u2019s head snapped up. The other students turned with wide eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the treeline, a lone figure emerged. His pace was steady, his presence commanding. White hair caught the moonlight like silver flame, and his calm eyes burned with an intensity that silenced the air itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even the staff recognized him instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “That\u2019s him…” one whispered, fear leaking into his voice. “The Wilton student. The one who defeated Kayzel…”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What\u2019s he doing here?” another hissed. “This has nothing to do with him. This is a matter for Central Academy. He should stay out of it unless he wants to cause trouble.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the boy did not stop. He walked forward, unhurried, utterly unconcerned with their threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Unfortunately for you,” Raze said, his voice carrying with quiet authority, “I won\u2019t be leaving.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n His gaze locked onto Kelly, then swept to the staff. “Because the one you\u2019re trying to hurt… is one of my people.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n As he spoke, the air around him darkened. Shadows rippled outward from his body, crawling across the ground, wrapping the trees, twisting the night itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark Magic flared. Not in flickers, not in sparks, but in a tide so suffocating the staff staggered back. It was no longer a secret, no longer hidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ***<\/p>\n\n\n\n *****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Patreon: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS, or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere grew heavy the moment Raze stepped forward. Dark magic swirled around him in thick, suffocating waves, seeping into the ground and staining the air itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Central Academy students had already seen Kelly wield the same energy, and now they saw it envelop the white-haired Wilton student as if it were second nature. It left them unsettled in a way that fire or lightning never could. This wasn\u2019t borrowed power. This was corruption made flesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He\u2019s… he\u2019s using a sword?” Bones muttered, wide-eyed, as a blade materialized in Raze\u2019s hand, forged entirely from dark magic and Qi. “But he never used one in the events. Is he… a magic swordsman?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Does that even matter right now?” another student snapped. “He\u2019s using Dark Magic. That means… he\u2019s with the Dark Guild. What the hell is going on?!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze didn\u2019t answer. He had no reason to explain himself, not to them, not to anyone. At this point, secrecy was irrelevant. Anyone who bore witness here would not live long enough to tell the tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The blade in his hand carved through the air, an arc of condensed destruction, aimed at the nearest staff mage, the one pinning Kelly. The mage, startled, hastily cast a gale-force wind spell. The blast collided with Raze\u2019s strike, but the moment wind met darkness, the magic unraveled like paper in a storm. The dark blade cleaved straight through, and the staff mage\u2019s body was split in half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood sprayed, a scream cut short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One stroke. One kill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The remaining two staff mages froze for an instant, fear sinking sharp claws into their hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, instinct jolted one into action. Fire gathered in his palms, a great searing orb that should have incinerated anyone caught in its path. But before the spell was loosed, a bolt of lightning crackled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mage gasped. His body jerked as arcs of blue electricity licked across his skin, making every hair stand on end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, before he even realized what had happened, a blade whispered across the back of his neck. A clean cut, silent but absolute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His head fell forward as his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students were speechless. Kelly herself staggered back, her breath caught in her throat. She had struggled desperately against all three, straining just to survive. But Raze… Raze had ended two of them in seconds, and without breaking stride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only one staff mage remained. His courage shattered. He stumbled backward, hands raised, lips trembling. His own magic fizzled at his fingertips, unable to form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What are you doing?!” he screamed. “You just killed two staff members, on Central Academy grounds! This is sacred land to the Grand Magus. Do you have any idea what you\u2019ve done?!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mage\u2019s words cracked, more plea than threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Raze\u2019s face remained cold, expressionless, as if the man\u2019s outrage was meaningless. “Do you really think I care about that<\/em> person?” His voice cut sharper than any blade. “Out of all the Grand Magus left in this world, he is the one most frightened. He knows what he\u2019s done. And he knows what\u2019s coming for him.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark energy coiled into Raze\u2019s palm. With a thrust forward, like a punch amplified by unholy power, the condensed magic tore through the man\u2019s protective barrier as if it were glass. The black spear of energy pierced his chest, bursting straight through his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mage didn\u2019t even finish screaming before his body slumped, lifeless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three staff mages. Dead. In the span of a minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The battlefield fell into eerie silence. The only sounds were the faint crackling of fading spells and the heavy, uneven breaths of the Central Academy students. They were pale, sweat running down their temples, staring at the corpses on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Except the corpses didn\u2019t remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze extended his hand again. Dark magic seeped outward, enveloping the three fallen bodies. The black fog wrapped around them like a shroud, twisting and pulling, until they shrank, compressed smaller and smaller, consumed by shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the darkness finally dissipated, there was nothing left. No blood. No flesh. Not even bones. It was as if the three men had never existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n George, who had just managed to stir back to consciousness, witnessed the final moment. His body trembled, his voice shaking as he forced the words out. “We… we saw it. He really used it, Dark Magic. That means he\u2019s part of the Dark Guild. So what now? Are we… are we next?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question echoed in every mind. The students\u2019 bodies tensed, half-expecting Raze to turn on them. Fear carved lines into their faces. Even if they promised to keep silent, would someone like him believe them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kayzel clenched his jaw, watching carefully. He remembered how Raze had fought during the matches, how he had held back, concealing his true strength. The events had been nothing but theater. A mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here was the reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that reality was terrifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019m not here to hurt you,” Raze finally said, his tone steady but unyielding. His gaze swept across them, cold but deliberate. “Kelly asked me to come. To save you.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students blinked in disbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What happens next is up to you,” Raze continued. “You can keep walking. You can go to the Grand Magus, as you planned. Or…” His eyes narrowed slightly, his sword dissolving back into shadow. “You can come with me. And I\u2019ll make sure you live.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The choice hung heavy in the air. Their breaths caught, hearts pounding, as the weight of those words pressed against their chests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They had seen enough to know one thing: the Wilton student before them was no ordinary mage. He was something else entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And whichever decision they made tonight… their lives would never be the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Central Academy students stood frozen, their world completely turned upside down. Only hours ago, they had been hailed as top prodigies, trained to bring honor to their academy in the magical exchange. They had expected praise, recognition, maybe even reverence. Instead, here they were, exhausted, powerless, cornered in the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And now, standing before them was Raze, the Wilton student who had shattered every expectation, his white hair illuminated faintly in the moonlight, his presence heavier than the dark magic swirling around him. The students didn\u2019t know who to fear more: the Grand Magus who had raised them… or the boy who had just killed their teachers as if swatting flies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bones took a step back, his voice cracking though he tried to sound strong. “I know you just saved us… but for all we know this could all be some trick. You\u2019re trying to lure us in, get us to join your Dark Guild, aren\u2019t you?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly folded her arms and let out a sharp huff. “Unbelievable. Not even a thank you? We haven\u2019t asked you to join anything. We\u2019re not recruiting. We\u2019re just giving you the chance to escape from the Grand Magus and the other mages who were literally<\/em> about to kill you. You all saw it happen. Or are your minds so broken you can\u2019t even process what just happened in front of your eyes?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Answer us this!” Bones pressed, his fists shaking. “Did the two of you just use Dark Magic? Are you members of the Dark Guild?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly turned her head toward Raze, uncertain how to answer. She hadn\u2019t expected him to reveal his magic so openly. Why had he done it? Other than erasing the bodies, he could have hidden it. If she had been the only one using Dark Magic, perhaps it would have been easier to explain away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Raze didn\u2019t hesitate. His voice cut through the tense air. “We are.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students gasped. Nannan\u2019s face drained of color as she stammered, “Are… are all the Wilton students part of the Dark Guild too? Kelly… you as well?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n That fear twisted deeper into their stomachs. The Dark Guild had always been painted as the enemy, the shadow lurking at the edges of society. They had all grown up believing that if they ever crossed paths with a member, it would be obvious, monstrous, terrifying, easy to identify. Yet Kelly, their companion through the exchange, had been one of them all along. And they had never realized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “That question doesn\u2019t even concern you,” Raze replied flatly. “But if you must know… I transferred to Wilton solely to take part in this event. That\u2019s it. Who belongs to what group, does it even matter?” His dark eyes swept across them. “If you want a reason to trust me, then here it is: I haven\u2019t killed you. Despite the countless chances I\u2019ve had, I never once raised my sword against you. Instead, I killed those who tried to harm you. So you can decide, who do you trust more?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words hit like iron. Kayzel clenched his jaw. Deep down, he believed Raze. The boy could have ended their lives at any moment during the tournament or just now. But belief didn\u2019t erase the dread clawing at him. If they refused Raze, if they insisted on returning to the Grand Magus, wouldn\u2019t that make them loose ends to be silenced?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The worst part was the lack of time. They had no luxury to weigh options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because right ahead, two more staff mages appeared, walking down the darkened path toward them. Their uniforms were the same as the ones who had tried to escort the students earlier. Reinforcements, sent because the others had been late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students\u2019 hearts seized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they turned back toward Raze, he was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, he was already standing five meters away, directly in front of the approaching staff. The mages panicked, hands flying as they tried to summon their spells, desperate to flee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Raze lifted one hand and pointed down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ground cracked beneath the staff mages as if gravity itself had doubled, tripled, multiplied. The air itself grew heavy, and in an instant both men slammed into the earth with bone-shattering force. The sound of snapping bones echoed down the path, followed by blood seeping into the cracked stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students flinched. George\u2019s mouth fell open. He knew exactly what he had just witnessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “That… that\u2019s my gravitational affinity,” George stammered. His eyes widened as he stared at Raze. “How… how is he using it?! And that strength, it\u2019s stronger than mine ever was!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the staff could even groan, Raze snapped his fingers. Dark energy rushed forward, enveloping their crumpled forms. Their screams cut off in seconds as the shadows shrank, consuming them until there was nothing left, not even ash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path was silent again. Only the students\u2019 ragged breathing remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze turned back toward them calmly, as if he hadn\u2019t just erased two lives from existence. Testing the new affinity had been effortless. Convenient. He tucked the thought away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n George\u2019s face twisted in horror. His voice broke into a shout. “Did you… did you steal our powers? Is that why we can\u2019t use magic anymore? Did you drain us?!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze\u2019s gaze lingered on him, unreadable. “No. This is the result of me saving your lives.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stepped closer, his words deliberate, unyielding. “The pills you took shattered your mana cores. They flooded your bodies with unstable mana, and when that mana faded, it would have taken everything with it, including your lives. By absorbing that energy, I kept you alive. And yes, in doing so, I inherited your affinities. That\u2019s how I gained gravitational magic.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He let the weight of his words settle. “So maybe you want to call it stealing. But the truth is, without me, you\u2019d already be corpses on the ground. I\u2019ve saved your lives three times now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The silence that followed was suffocating. Some of the students looked away, others stared at him in a mix of awe and fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, Raze broke it. His dark magic crackled faintly at his fingertips as his eyes locked onto theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Now tell me,” he said. “Are you coming with me… or not?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n ***<\/p>\n\n\n\n ****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chapter 1490: Masks in the Dark<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the end, the Central Academy students had no real choice, at least, that was how it felt. Reluctant, fearful, and uncertain, they found themselves following behind Raze and Kelly wherever they were leading them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their footsteps were heavy, their hearts heavier still. Many of them couldn\u2019t stop staring at Raze, the thought gnawing at them: he had somehow obtained George\u2019s special affinity. That single detail left an uncomfortable weight pressing down on everyone\u2019s chest. It made them question everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If he has George\u2019s affinity, doesn\u2019t that mean he really did steal our powers? some thought. Others clung stubbornly to the belief that it had all been the Grand Magus\u2019 fault, that the pills were the true reason. Yet doubt lingered, poisoning the air between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Grand Magus will punish us for this, without question,\u201d one muttered under his breath. \u201cBut\u2026 can we really believe it was all just because of the pills?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere do you think he\u2019s taking us?\u201d Nannan finally asked aloud, her voice tight with unease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe to one of the teachers at Wilton,\u201d Bones suggested grimly. \u201cOr maybe he\u2019s planning to smuggle us out of the Academy entirely. But sneaking a group this large? That\u2019ll be nearly impossible. And now, after openly going against the Grand Magus, we\u2019re practically fugitives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That word, fugitives, echoed in their minds. They weren\u2019t just students anymore. They were rebels, branded by their own inaction, marked by their association with Raze. And worst of all, they worried for their families. How would the Academy explain this to them? Would their parents be punished, their homes destroyed? Everyone here knew the Grand Magus\u2019 influence stretched far. Far enough that even the Dark Guild might not be able to oppose it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully, as their tense march continued, some of their anxiety eased when they noticed Raze steering them back toward the celebrations. The closer they got to the noise and lights of the venue, the safer it felt. At least in a crowd, they couldn\u2019t simply be dragged away without witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before they fully stepped back into the open, Raze stopped. With a wave of his hand, he produced a bundle of masks and tossed one to each student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re the same masks the Wilton students used during the events,\u201d Raze explained flatly. \u201cI\u2019m sure you remember how useful they were. We can\u2019t assume Ibarin will hesitate, he may already have sent people after you. From this moment forward, we move quietly, and we move in secret.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students caught the masks, turning them over in their hands. Some hesitated, unwilling to place the disguise over their faces, but Raze\u2019s tone left no room for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In truth, part of the reason Raze had arrived late to rescue them earlier was because he had been preparing for exactly this situation. He knew it wouldn\u2019t be as simple as just defeating a few staff members. He knew the real danger was the storm that would follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even Raze donned a mask. It wasn\u2019t the same one he had once given to Alen, the special artifact that allowed him to copy faces flawlessly. These were simpler, ordinary disguises, crude yet effective enough to alter their appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As they began walking again, Raze cast a silence spell around the group. Only then did they realize they could speak freely without fear of being overheard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo where exactly are we going?\u201d Kayzel asked, suspicion sharp in his voice. \u201cAre you taking us to someone at Wilton? To your principal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you really think Wilton, or its principal, could help you in this situation?\u201d Raze replied coolly. \u201cIf the Grand Magus demanded it, they would cave in without hesitation. No. We\u2019re going to someone who can actually do something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They slipped toward the far corner of the venue. Staff members patrolled in pairs, their eyes scanning the crowd. Sometimes it seemed like they were looking for someone in particular. Other times, it was impossible to tell if they were simply guarding against trouble. The tension made every student\u2019s heart race faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they reached the far wall, Raze scanned the area. Seeing no one nearby, he stomped his foot against the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The earth trembled. Stones shifted. A hidden staircase revealed itself, spiraling downward into darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI really don\u2019t like this,\u201d Bones muttered nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell,\u201d Kayzel snapped back, \u201ceither you come with us, or you stay behind and throw yourself back into the arms of the Grand Magus. Your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that, Raze moved first, Kelly close beside him. One by one, the rest of the students followed. As soon as the last pair of feet descended, the earth closed up above them, sealing the staircase behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The air grew damp and cold, and the only sound was the shuffle of boots against stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre we even going to be able to breathe down here?\u201d Nannan asked, her voice echoing slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Raze answered. \u201cThere are shafts and cracks leading to the surface. Air passes through. It\u2019s not a place to live forever, but you\u2019ll survive long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere pressed in around them, and Raze couldn\u2019t help but be reminded of the assessment he had once endured in Pagna. A dark, confined place. A trial of survival. Back then, many had died. And here he was again, leading frightened students into the unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, as they reached the bottom, a figure stood waiting in the shadows. When the students\u2019 eyes adjusted, they gasped in shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 Alen Flen!\u201d Nannan exclaimed. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the high-ranking officials in the military, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight,\u201d Bones added quickly. \u201cAnd didn\u2019t Aurora, his sister, used to be a student at Central Academy too? She was famous for her talent. What\u2019s he doing here? Don\u2019t tell me\u2026 is he part of the Dark Guild as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. \u201cI am not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students froze at his stern denial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHowever,\u201d Alen continued, his eyes narrowing, \u201cI am well aware of the Grand Magus\u2019 wrongdoings. And I, like you, am trapped in this same situation. That is why we must work together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n *****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Patreon: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS, or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chapter 1491: Magus Revealed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When the Central Academy students first laid eyes on Alen Flen, a man whose name carried weight across the mage world, they felt an unexpected sense of ease wash over them. Alen wasn\u2019t just another figure of authority, he was a respected officer, a man of the military who had stood against countless threats. To see him here, standing in the hidden chamber beneath the festival grounds, almost made them forget the chaos of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze, watching the students\u2019 shifting expressions, allowed himself a rare thought: he had made the right decision. Bringing Alen into this situation gave the students something he never could, familiarity and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand that what you\u2019ve all gone through feels like your entire world has been flipped upside down,\u201d Alen began, his voice steady and commanding. Even though his words echoed faintly in the underground chamber, they carried a weight that silenced every whispered doubt among the students. \u201cThe values you were taught from the time you were children, the pride of serving under the banner of the Central Academy\u2026 all of it now conflicts with what you\u2019ve just witnessed. That conflict is not your fault. It is the fault of those who abused your loyalty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students glanced at one another. Some lowered their eyes, ashamed to even think ill of their academy. Others clenched their fists, anger simmering beneath their hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is the same for me,\u201d Alen continued. His gaze hardened. \u201cThe Grand Magus himself is after my life. For reasons I cannot fully explain yet, I have become a target. Because of that, I am forced to stay in hiding. But unlike you, I had time to prepare. I have gathered a group, men and women who are loyal to me beyond measure, who would trust me with their lives as I trust them with mine. Together, we are surviving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over them. Even the sound of their own breathing seemed loud in the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat I am offering you,\u201d Alen said slowly, \u201cis access to those resources. Raze brought you here because he wishes me to protect you. And as part of the military of Alterian, it is my duty to protect civilians, yes, even students like yourselves, from corruption and injustice. I will not refuse that duty. Still, you must be willing. You must choose this path yourselves. Because what lies ahead may shape not only your lives, but all of Alterian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several of the students shifted uncomfortably. Bones swallowed hard, his throat dry. Nannan tugged at her sleeve, eyes flicking between Alen and Kayzel. They could all feel the weight pressing down on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alen\u2019s voice softened but carried no less conviction. \u201cIf you agree to stay under my care, then I will immediately send my people to protect your families. They will be told what they need to know, and they will be kept safe. Ibarin will not be able to use them against you. But there is one condition. You cannot leave this place until the festival ends. Masks will keep your identities hidden. To the outside world, you will simply be spectators in the crowd. But as far as the academy is concerned\u2026 you no longer exist as their students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words struck deep. To no longer be Central Academy\u2019s chosen, to abandon the institution that had defined their lives, it felt like erasing their own identities. And yet, to return meant certain punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe least you can do,\u201d Alen finished, his eyes sharp as steel, \u201cis survive now, so that you may uncover the truth later. That is your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The silence that followed was suffocating. George clenched his fists, then slowly stepped forward. His face was pale, his voice quiet, but his words were firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease\u2026 look after me, and my family,\u201d George said, bowing deeply. \u201cI accept your offer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His choice broke the dam. Nannan followed, her lips trembling but her eyes resolute. Bones muttered something under his breath before stepping forward as well. One by one, the students agreed, until even Kayzel, who had no family to worry about, nodded. His pride had been shattered, but he understood what was at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alen wasted no time. He began issuing orders, his voice clipped and professional as he made contact with his people, already moving to secure the students\u2019 families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly, who had disguised herself carefully, remained quiet, though her eyes softened with relief. At least the students would survive. That much had been achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze, however, was already walking toward the staircase, his cloak shifting slightly with his steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n George caught sight of him and hurried forward. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said, bowing his head. \u201cI still don\u2019t know if you truly needed to take my power, or if you were the reason behind our condition. But\u2026 you didn\u2019t have to help us. We lost to you. You could have ignored us. Instead, you saved us. So\u2026 thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze turned slightly, a faint smile flickering across his face, though he said nothing. As he moved past, other voices followed, murmured thanks that reached his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then Kayzel stepped into his path. His eyes burned with a question he could no longer hold back. \u201cIs your goal truly\u2026 to kill the Grand Magus Ibarin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raze stopped. He turned, his pale hair catching the glow of the torches. His gaze locked onto Kayzel\u2019s, and for a moment, it felt as if the air itself grew heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is,\u201d Raze said. His tone left no room for doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kayzel\u2019s chest tightened. His mind raced, but one question spilled out before he could stop it. \u201c\u2026Who are you, really?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the briefest second, Raze\u2019s expression shifted, something sharp and ancient flickering behind his eyes. Then his voice, low and steady, cut through the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am\u2026 the Dark Magus. And I have returned to finish my last task in Alterian, destroying every Grand Magus that remains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n ***<\/p>\n\n\n\n *****<\/p>\n\n\n\n For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram: Jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Patreon: jksmanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n When news of MVS, MWS, or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I\u2019m not too busy, I tend to reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chapter 1485: Summoned in the Dark The Central Academy students obeyed as they always had. When the principal summoned them, they went. That had been their rhythm for years, an unspoken rule carved into their bones. And yet tonight, as they walked under the flickering lanterns of the festival, their steps felt heavier than ever […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tak-berkategori"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3450"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3451,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3450\/revisions\/3451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Chapter 1486: Shadows in the Academy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1487: The Dark Shadow<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1488: The Choice Before Them<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1489: Fractured Trust<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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